Primarily for the writers/reviewers in the crowd...

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When you're reviewing a record by a band you don't really know, do you bother doing much digging on 'em before you write 'em up? er do ya just go with your gut?

Just curious...

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

The more you know, the more you know. Information can be really important for context.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 03:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I like to take notes without context first to gauge my gut reactions, and then go back and do homework after the first listen. If I do the homework first then I end up hearing what someone else heard instead of what I am hearing.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 04:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree with Joseph on this one. I also try to listen to some back catalog whenever possible to get a sense of what's notable about this release.

I do like having a first listen unaffected by other writing, but sometimes I've already read about a band before I even know I'm going to review it.

― JC-L (JC-L), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree with everything said. I'll listen and take notes first, sometimes blind (not even knowing whom I'm listening to), then gather info. Promo sheets can be useful, but you have to bear in mind that their purpose is to try to get you to perceive the music in a certain way so that your review will send a pre-chosen message. (There's nothing inherently wrong with promo sheets playing that role; you just have to use your own judgment when reading.) And knowing lots about music and social contexts in general (which frankly I never feel I know very well) is more important than doing particular research on a particular band. And info gained from living your life and keeping eyes and ears open may be more crucial than any specific band- or genre-related research you do. And some unsolicited advice: The basic review game Name the genre, laud or criticize band for living/not living up to it, or laud/critice band for crossing genre boundaries, is really old and tired; so's the shtick of lauding band for resisting commercial or social pressure (or lauding yourself for resisting the same in your review)(or lauding yourself for resisting the impulse to do the foregoing), or criticizing the band for not resisting. Not that I don't do such things plenty in my reviews, since often I don't know what to say.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

hear, hear. the other really old and tired thing is lauding a band for having "eclectic" influences or ambitions, or being "surprising." it is not interesting or unusual for a band to draw from hip-hop and folk and chamber pop and 20th century classical music. it is a cliche. it is also, in various degrees, what all musicians do, and have always done. it is not surprising when christina aguilera incorporates rock and arabic influences into her music. if anything, it's surprising when she doesn't.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 21:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Still, it's the only thing I can think of to write a lot of the time, given that we're supposed to describe the music. (I don't get much mileage lauding bands for being boring.) I mean, gawd, see what I wrote this week.

Er, record reviewing isn't really my forte.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

And it is surprising - or at least worth commenting on - the way Southern hip-hop draws so much from classical music, actually (especially given that "classical" is not part of its symbolism at all). Crunk really does sound different from r&b in this respect. Lots of minor keys.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Not that I don't do such things plenty in my reviews, since often I don't know what to say.

This surprises me as I always get the feeling you have a lot to say about he things you write about, but maybe I am confusing the long essays w/reviews.

― artdamages (artdamages), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I try to not know anything and if possible write my review 80% fact-free, then dig some stuff up to add colour. Because you're not doing anyone a favour by re-writing the band's bio, but sometimes that stuff is important for context.
I don't know, I've just been going through this (next) month's batch of review discs and I was leafing through booklets and noticed someone had the same drummer and engineer as the last record by someone I really don't like and so that tainted the new guy, and I think he probably stinks anyhow, but there you go. Like George Michael says, Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks artdamages. Maybe I just feel that I'm repeating myself. But then again, I'm one of the few people who's read everything I've written in the last 45 years, so probably it's more obvious to me.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Friday, 10 September 2004 06:16 (twenty-one years ago)

sometimes I don't WANT to know a lot about the album, cuz I'm a little tired of auterist career-context reviews. Stuff friends say when they hear the album out of the blue are just as valid as comments from hardcore music nerds. If anything the former are more likely to be reacting to the music itself.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 06:41 (twenty-one years ago)

though hardcore music nerds are quick to jump on it if you admit that you're not an expert in the artist's ouvre, an aspect that should only nullify your observation if you're saying shit like "this is their best work ever."

And knowing lots about music and social contexts in general (which frankly I never feel I know very well) is more important than doing particular research on a particular band. And info gained from living your life and keeping eyes and ears open may be more crucial than any specific band- or genre-related research you do.

OTM

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 06:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I just had a nice moment where I went "hey, Frank Kogan's posted something!" at the same time the Les Baton Rouge album came on. Synergy!

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 06:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i've made the mistake of avoiding listening to something I had to review because the promo sheet made it sound really boring, and then putting it on only to discover that it's actually really good!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 10 September 2004 08:29 (twenty-one years ago)

this is why I throw away all promotional material forthwith. well, usually.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Friday, 10 September 2004 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i used to find it depressing how often promotional material was better than reviews - the kit for handsome boy modeling school was hilarious and most drag city promo one sheets had a much bigger sense of humor about their music than most rockcrits.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 11 September 2004 03:44 (twenty-one years ago)

the little promo blurb thing matador sent out before terror twilight was not only better than most reviews it was better than the actual record!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 11 September 2004 03:45 (twenty-one years ago)

it depends on what they'll tell me with their cocks in my mouth. rock writing just so depends on that approaching jizz moment, where you lust away your limp wit comments to get most ego credit and spunk value, then afterwards it can be tossed away, with the sticky tissue you send your story to Uncut on. Don't hold onto the information or the rock star for too long - like stale cum, they really fuck up your bedroom.

― Queen Get outta my, Saturday, 11 September 2004 08:52 (twenty-one years ago)

How the hell does stale cum fuck up your bedroom? It's not such a big deal.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Saturday, 11 September 2004 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

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